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Black Sabbath - Paranoid review



Reviewer:
9.0

2072 users:
9.2
Band: Black Sabbath
Album: Paranoid
Style: Doom metal, Hard rock, Heavy metal
Release date: September 18, 1970
Guest review by: Ozzy


Disc I
01. War Pigs
02. Paranoid
03. Planet Caravan
04. Iron Man
05. Electric Funeral
06. Hand Of Doom
07. Rat Salad
08. Fairies Wear Boots

Disc II [2009 Deluxe Expanded Edition DVD Audio]
01. War Pigs [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
02. Paranoid [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
03. Planet Caravan [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
04. Iron Man [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
05. Electric Funeral [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
06. Hand Of Doom [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
07. Rat Salad [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
08. Fairies Wear Boots [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]

Disc III [2009 Deluxe Expanded Edition bonus]
01. War Pigs [Instrumental]
02. Paranoid [Alternative Lyrics version]
03. Planet Caravan [Alternative Lyrics version]
04. Iron Man [Instrumental]
05. Electric Funeral [Instrumental]
06. Hand Of Doom [Instrumental]
07. Rat Salad [Alternate mix]
08. Fairies Wear Boots [Instrumental]

1970 was an intense and highly satisfying year for Black Sabbath. February of that year saw the release of their eponymous titled first album and, by the end of that year, they issued their second album, the legendary Paranoid.

The album contains some of the bands most enduring material. "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Fairies wear Boots" and of course the title track [that was a top ten single at the time.] On the cover, a futuristic looking soldier waving what looks like a lightsaber! What can I say, they though it looked good!
The album was initially to be called "War Pigs" but it was changed to "Paranoid" as their US label thought "War Pigs" was distasteful to an America at war with Vietnam! Lyrically, the album does contains absolutely no satanic references, but despite this, the band attracted a following with an unhealthy obsession with the Occult. Some of the most famous guitar riffs in history are on this album. "Paranoid" and "Iron Man" have been heard anywhere and everywhere.
The songs "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral" talk clearly about the war in Vietnam. All members of the band had a hippy-like pacifist attitude! "Planet Caravan" is one of my favourite songs ever written. It is a slow, bluesy, moody song that can make you relax in seconds. "Hand of Doom" talks clearly about hard drug abuse. But not in a good way. The lyrics put the listener of drugs saying things like?
"You know you must be blind to do something like this. To take the sleep that you don't know your giving death a kiss. Oh, little fool now!"
After one particular show, the band got into a fight with some skinheads. This is where "fairies wear boots" comes from! One of my favourite tracks on the record.

The album "Paranoid" saw Black Sabbath moving away from their original bluesy sound that permeated the first album. A lot heavier. A lot louder than before, Black Sabbath come to find themselves as a heavy metal band. They are the pioneers in the journey of metal. They invented metal! "Paranoid" is definitely an album that shouldn't be missing from any metalheads collection!

Written by Ozzy | 26.04.2004




Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.


Comments

Comments: 12   Visited by: 249 users
31.03.2008 - 01:38
Rating: 10
IronBlackZepp
One of the first metal albums and still one of the best ever. You have to give Black Sabbath credit, they knew how to write a heavy song. This album deserves to get a 10 out of 10. All of the songs are classics and still are relevent today.
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13.08.2008 - 19:41
Rating: 10
Demonmayonnaise
Its amazing how Sabbath's albums are still considered some of the best after so many years.
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18.08.2008 - 14:47
Rating: 10
Elio
Red Nightmare
amazing album!songs as "War Pigs" and "Iron Man" will never die!:kopkop:
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IntoPlighT said: "Slipknot is 15 years old how the fuck is that Nu metal?"

BEST. QUOTE. EVER.
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13.10.2008 - 20:09
JEWcifer
Account deleted
Black Sabbath is the greatest metal band of all-time. This album is truly an epic masterpiece with songs like "War Pigs," "Paranoid," and the greatest metla song, "Iron Man." If you don't own this album, then get it. It changed my life, and it will change yours.
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06.05.2009 - 13:01
Magatouve
Account deleted
I can't believe it ... two people in this website gave it the rating of 1 This is blasphemy!!
I know that not everyone should giver it 10... but 1
Some people just like to do the opposite of what other people do even when it's right
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30.08.2009 - 22:38
Ellrohir
Heaven Knight
Really good album with those "immortals" like War Pigs and Iron Man
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My rest seems now calm and deep
Finally I got my dead man sleep


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19.11.2009 - 09:21
Rating: 10
IronBlackZepp
@Magatouve I dont know how any metalhead could give this album a 1. They must not know anything about metal, I mean the first metal albums were made by Black Sabbath.

This is the most influential metal album of all time. Why? Just look at the song list, their is something that influenced almost every genre of metal on this great album.
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19.11.2009 - 18:20
Rating: 10
BitterCOld
The Ancient One
Admin
It's amazing that Ozzy reviewed an album for us.

as for the people who gave the album a 1, likely they are just douchebags trying to fuck with the top 10/100 chart.

in order to help promote an album they like, the tank others around it.
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get the fuck off my lawn.

Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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26.01.2010 - 18:06
Rating: 9
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Great review i think this is their best album ever -9
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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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16.11.2012 - 09:10
Valentin B
Iconoclast
I saw the album "Black Sabbath" was voted 2nd best album of the year 1970 and I thought "what the hell, which album is first??" then I saw it's actually this one..

This is definitely a more focused record and has some of the absolute best Sabbath songs ever written, but I'm having a small issue calling this their best... it's so hard to decide with Sabbath what's the best album, so many of their albums are fantastic
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19.04.2014 - 07:58
Rating: 9
Timelord
This is truly a classic masterpiece BUUUUTTT It has been so overplayed that I cringe when I hear "I am Iron man" or the sirens from "War Pigs" . Just like hearing "Back in Black" or Lica's(metal left in 89) Black Album they all got so overplayed it damn near ruined the importance of the album. Thank goodness Planet Caravan,Electric Funeral and Hand of Doom didn't get to that point. That being said,"Paranoid" cemented Sabbath as the grandfather's of metal.
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22.07.2015 - 01:32
Rating: 8
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
If Russian band would sing about Russia involving in Ukraine ... that band in Rus be sentenced in jail, not just chnge album title ... west-east , difference
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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